Classy Text Messages from a Collection Agency

In Hartung v J.D. Byrider of Chandler, et al., 2009 U.S. Dist. Lexis 54415 (2009), the Plaintiff got behind on car payments. As one would expect, a collection agency became involved.

As one would not expect, the representative from the Collection agency called T-Mobile, claimed he was Plaintiff’s father and asked to be added to her cell phone account.

The Collection agency representative then began making harassing phone calls and texting to Plaintiff. A total of 17 text messages over 5 days that were sent, that the Court called angry, menacing & intimidating. The representative also claimed he was a lawyer and would have her arrested.

Below are selected text messages from the Collection Agency Representative:

“[Y]ou have various bills going to crows landing. I can tell by talking to you you’re smarter than this. So [sic] I guess we’ll see.”

Josh Gilliland is a California attorney who focuses his practice on eDiscovery. Josh is the co-creator of The Legal Geeks, which has made the ABA Journal Top Blawg 100 Blawg from 2013 to 2016, the Web 100 from 2017 to 2018, and was nominated for Best Podcast for the 2015 Geekie Awards. Josh has presented at legal conferences and comic book conventions across the United States. He also ties a mean bow tie.